Daily Devotional for Sunday September 18, 2005

Compromise is a Trap from Satan Himself

(Ecclesiastes 10:1; Song of Solomon 2:15; 1 Corinthians 5:6)

Last summer, I watched with great interest the Democratic Convention as they did their very best to hide their true beliefs. This party supports a woman's right to kill her baby, they try to redefine God's Holy Institution of Marriage and family, and are made up of many special interest groups that are in rebellion to God and His Word. However, they very carefully kept from the podium in Boston anyone who would articulate these beliefs on the critical spiritual issues facing our nation today.

A few weeks later, I watched the Republican Convention in New York. This party states that it supports life, a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a man and a woman, as well as other positions consistent with the Bible on key spiritual issues. However, the speakers in prime time did not endorse any of those positions at the podium, and were actually people on record supporting the exact opposite! My friend, this is called compromise and it is a trap from satan himself!

While compromise is part of the landscape of the political world, sadly, it has also become part of the landscape of the church world. Many churches now support and condone the sin of homosexuality. Some have perverted the Gospel with the abominable lie from hell that "all good people will go to Heaven." Too many pastors have quit preaching about sin for fear of offending people. For too many people, church has turned into little more than a social gathering and a place to be entertained on Sundays.

WHEN YOU COMPROMISE THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD, YOU ARE LEFT WITH NOTHING!

This is not only true in the church, but it is true in your life as well. There is no such thing as a little sin. Sin by its very definition is rebellion against God. You either obey God or you don't. There is no middle ground. You are either living in accordance with His Word, or you are living in rebellion to His Word. There is no room for compromise! Many of you are facing the problems you have in your life today because you chose to compromise God's Word. The fact is, our way doesn't work and God's way does!

I love you and care about you so much. I want to encourage you today. Whenever we choose to compromise the truth of God's Word, there is always a price to pay. Never forget that satan is a liar. He is the great justifier. Satan will always give you great reasons why it is OK to compromise in a certain situation or circumstance. But remember, Jesus told us in John chapter 10 that it is satan's goal to "kill, steal, and destroy" you! God on the other hand loves you, cares about you, and wants to bless you. Don't listen to the one who wants to destroy your life, listen to the one who wants to bless your life!

This is a simple message today, but a powerful one. Politicians can't get anything of significance accomplished because they have compromised themselves to the point they really stand for nothing. One of the reasons the church today is so weak and ineffective is because it has compromised the truth of God's Word leaving it powerless to affect change in our world or in the lives of people. Many of you are struggling in your life today because you have compromised God's plan for your own.

My word for you today is to hold firm to the truth of God's Word. It will guide you and sustain you through the good times and bad. Don't ever let the enemy deceive you into believing that you have a better plan than God does. When you compromise what God has said, you are telling your Creator that you know more than He does. Never forget that compromise is a trap from satan himself that will only bring heartache and pain. Follow God's way, that is where you will find the blessings.